The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has on Tuesday August 24 ordered the arrest of Migori Governor Okoth Obado and four of his children, including two sons and two daughters, over alleged theft of Ksh73.5 million belonging to the taxpayer.
Haji, in a statement seen by Nairobi Exposed that anti-graft agency, EACC, investigated claims of misappropriation of public funds by the governor, his children, friends and an employee of the county government, and that the probe, which ended on July 1, 2020 has revealed that the suspects have a case to answer.
“Upon conclusion of the investigations, the EACC forwarded the inquiry file on July 1, 2020. Due to the complexity of the matter, I appointed a team of prosecutors to be part of an interagency team to review and analyse the evidence therein,” said the DPP in the press statement.
Haji added that the team assembled to investigate claims of graft against Obado and his cronies established that Ksh73,474,376.90 was indirectly received by the governor through his children, who received multiple payments from companies trading with the Migori County Government between the financial years 2013/2014 and 2016/2017.
Obado through his children received multiple payments from companies trading with Migori County Government between the 2013-2014 and 2016-2017 financial year.
The companies involved in the scandal include Misoft Company Limited, Tarchdog Printers, Deltrack ICT services, Seletrack Consultants, Mactebac Contractors, Joyush Business, Swyfcon Engineering, Atinus Services, Kajulu business, Victorious Investment, Dolphins Softwares, Dankey Press and Pesulus Services.
DPP Haji also ordered the arrest of 23 others with Obado’s sons Dan Okoth and Jerry Okoth, daughters Susan Okoth and Adhiambo Okoth were also named in the scandal.
Over Ksh. 38 million was wired to the Governor’s children in the name of Dan, Susan and Jerry which was used to pay their school fees, upkeep, maintenance and medical bills in Australia, Scotland and the United Kingdom.
Governor Obado’s children also used some of the monies to purchase two high end Toyota Land Cruiser V8s.
The audit also revealed that over Ksh. 34 million was used to purchase a house in Loresho Ridge under the name of Evelyne Adhiambo, the Governor’s daughter.
“An audit trail of the money led to persons closely related to Zachary Okoth Obado, who were his proxies,” reported the prosecutions boss.
“Zachary Okoth Obado indirectly and in conflict of interest, received a benefit totaling to Ksh73, 474, 376.90 from companies and businesses that traded with Migori County Government,” added Haji.
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